Andrew w



UNITED STATES,

' PATENT OFFICE.

ANDREW W. STEIGER, OF NEW YORK, N. Y., ASSIGNOR TO THE YOST WRITING MACHINE COMPANY, OF SAME PLACE.

FOLDING TABLE.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 389.535, dated September 11, 1888 (No model.)

T at whom it may concern.-

Beitkncwn that I, ANDREW W. STEIGER, a

. citizen of the United States, and a residentof New York city, in the county of New York and State of New York, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Folding Tables, of which the following is a specification. My invention relates to a table or stand that is adapted to be folded up into a small compass for storage and transportation, and has for its main object to utilize the drawer ofthe contrlvance as a receptacle to contain the top or leaves and the legs or leg-frames, 850.

The invention consists, first, in a table or stand provided with a jointed top or cover, legs or leg-frames jointed to the cover or top and jointed at a point intermediate of their ends, so that the legs may fold together and againstthe cover and so that the cover may be doubled upon itself, whereby the whole may be readily packed flat and may be conveniently opened out for use without fitting together any of the parts and without the use of any tools; second, in the combination of such a structure with a drawer which is adapted to contain it when folded up and when opened out to be supported thereby; third, in the combination, with the legs, of legbraces pivoted at their inner ends so as to fold together and constructed at their outer ends for attachment to thelegs, and, fourth, in a drawer constructed with a reversible front, whereby the inner unfinished side may be turned outwardly when the drawer is employed as a packing-box to transport the whole structure, all as will be hereinafter more fully described, and particularly set forth in the claims.

In the accompanying drawings, Figure 1 is a front elevation of a table or stand embodying my improvements. Fig. 2 is aside elevation of the same. Fig. 3 is an elevation of the table folded for shipment and represented as packed within the table-drawer. Fig. 4. is a perspective view of the drawer. Fig. 5 is a partial bottom plan of the leaves or covers of the table and their locking devices. Fig. 6 is a partial side view of the jointed table-leg and the locking device for preventing breaking at thejoint when the table is set up for use, and

Fig. 7 is an elevation of the outer end oftone of the braces.

In the several views the same part will be found designated by the same numeral of reference.

Each leg is composed of two portions, 2 and 3, which are hinged together bya rule-joint at 4. The upper ends of the portions 2 2 are knuckle-jointed at 5 5 to the under side ofthe table-top or cover, which is hinged in the mid dle at 6 to form two leaves, 7 7. On the under side of each leaf are secured, preferably, three flanges orbrackets,8 8 8, which engage with a groove, 9, on each side of the drawer l0, and support the latter while permitting its being slid back and forth. Instead ofthree separate flanges or tongues, asingle long tongue may be used. Two arms, 11, are pivoted on the under side of one leaf, and two catches, 12, on the under side of the other leaf, and when these devices are in engagement the leaves are held against folding at thejoint 6. When a drawer is used with the stand,the fastening ineansjust referred to may be omitted, as the tongues 8 in the grooves are sufficient to prevent any tendency of the leaves to shut together under the weight of any article that may be placed upon the joint. The front section or panel, 13, of the drawer it is desired to have made with a furniture finish on the outside, and to provide against injuring or mar-ring the same during transportation this section is pivoted at the ends, as seen at 14 14, to enable its reversal and the bringing of its inner unfinished side to the front. W'hen thus turned, it may be held fast in any suitable way; but I prefer to utilize the lock of the drawer to effect its securement in this inside-out condition. The lock is indicated by the numeral 15, and when the panel is given a halftu rn is carried to the inside at the bottom ofthe drawer and over a cutout orsocket, 16, therein, into which the bolt of the lock may be shot by a simple manipulation of the key. In the position ofthe panel at Fig. 1 the lock is adapted to co-operatc with the leaves 7 7, so as to prevent the drawer being opened.

17 17 17 17 designate four rods pivoted at their inner ends at 18, and constructed at their outer ends with jaws or hooks 19, which fit upon or over lugs 20, projecting inwardly from the leg portions. These rods are provided to brace the table against lateral swaying movement.

Iivoted at 21 on each portion 2 of the legs is a gravity-lateh, 22, that depends below the joint 4. and engages with a lipped plate, 23, fastened to or east integral with each lower section, 3, of the legs. These fastening de vices are employed to prevent the legs from having any hinge-like movement at thejoints 4 4 when the structure is set up and in use.

If it be desired to fold up the table illus trated at Figs. 1 and 2 for storage or shipment, the drawer is removed and the braces 17 are unhookcd from the leg-sections and folded together about the common pivot 18, as indicated by the arrows. The latches 22 are then vibrated upwardly, as illustrated by the arrow at Fig. 6, and the upper legsections, 2 2, are swung upwardly against the under sides of the leaves 7 7. The lower legsections, 3 3, are then folded back against the upper leg-seetions, and the leaves folded face to face by swinging them upwardly at the joint 6, all as indicated by the various arrows at Figs. 1 and 6. \Vhcn the parts shall have been folded together, as just explained, they are brought into the relative positions shown at Fig. 3, and may then be placed within the drawer, as may also thedetaehed folded brace rods. The front panel of the drawer having been previously reversed and secured, as hereinbvfore referred to, the top of thedrawer may be covered with a rough board, or by slats or canvas, or the like, and the whole stored away or transported to its destination.

Of course, instead of folding together the legs and top in the order just explained, the top may be folded first, after the removal of the drawer and braces, and the legs afterward.

From what has already been said and from the drawings the manner in which the table is to beset up for use from the folded condition shown and described will be apparent without further reference.

The table has been designed especially for type-writing machines, but may of course be used for other purposes. The latches or fastening devices illustrated may be replaced by others, if desired; but I prefer the construction shown, particularly those marked 19 and 23. The hooks 19 engage with the studs 20 by a rearward movement, and hence the braces are precluded from being detached accidentally by the knees of the user of the table. The gravity-catches 22 tend always to maintain themselves in locked position.

So far as one feature of my invention is concerned, the drawer may be omitted, and when not employed the folded table maybe packed in a common box or simply tied up for trans portation; but I greatly prefer the use of the drawer, as I find in practice that the parts of the table can be so proportioned that they may be folded together and fitted nicely within the drawer, which may then be used as a packingbox.

\Vhat I claim as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is-

1. A collapsible table provided with suitable means for maintaining it in an open rigid condition, and consisting, essentially, ofatop jointed in the middle at 6 to form two leaves, 7 7, and two legs jointed, as at 4, between their ends to form portions 2 2 and 3 3, the portions 2 2 being jointed to the leaves 7 7, and the whole constructed and arranged to permit the portions 2 2 to fold against the under sides of the leaves 7 7, the portions 3 3 to fold back upon the portions 2 2, and the leaves 7 7 to fold together face to face, as set forth.

2. The combination of a table having a jointed top, jointed legs jointed to the top, and a drawer supported by the top, the whole being so proportioned that the table may be folded together and packed within the drawer, substantially as set forth.

3. In a folding table, the combination, with thejointed legs, of the fourrods 17, (forming leg-braees,) pivoted at 18 at their inner ends to fold together and detachably connected at their outer ends to the legs, as set forth.

4. In a table, a drawer having a reversible end, as set forth.

5. In a table, a drawer having a pivoted end provided with a lock or fastening, and having its bottom constructed to permit of the engagement therewith of said lock or fastening upon the reversal of said front or end, substantially as set forth.

Signed at New York, in the county of New York and State of New York, this 26th day of October, A. D. 1887.

ANDREW \V. STEIGER.

Witnesses:

Jaoon FELBEL, D. S. RIT'IERBAND. 

